Pushing for positive transformations

• Published date: 11 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

At the maiden Greater Lagos Art Exhibition, with the theme: Art in and for Transformations, artists, enthusiasts and government officials agreed that art should push for positive social transformations. OYEBOLA OWOLABI reports

'The Peace Bearer', a painting by Eunice Akintayo, was particularly instructive to understanding the role of women as peace advocates. Why then should a society be violent towards its bringer of bearer, the same vessel through which it can be transformed?

Prophetic Sequence, by Ayo Akinyemi, also portrays a mystical universe that embraces the feminine form as a symbol for social commentary, beauty, pain and individuality. 'My works, in line with this exhibition's theme, emphasises human liberation, cultural diversity and explores the role of spirituality in shaping identity,' Akinyemi said.

These works and 64 others were on display at the maiden Greater Lagos art exhibition, where participants agreed that art should be more than just art. According to them, art should be a potent tool through which great transformations can be wrought in individual lives and the larger society.

Organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady, it featured a panel discussion, art exhibition and workshop. Featuring 35 artists and 66 works, the exhibition showed the need to use artistic creations to preach resiliece, perseverance, belief in society which will in turn transform the society positively. It also portrayed the resilient and audacious spirit of Lagos and its people, and was an opportunity to reflect the fellowship individuals and societies enjoy through and in art, as well as pointers to the way forward.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, stressed that creative arts occupies a special place in the E pillar of the THEMES agenda of his administration, which stands for Entertainment and Tourism.

He said: 'The theme of this event speaks to the power of art works as potent tools to drive and influence social transformation through the message they communicate. This is quite instructive as there is the need to utilise different modes and media to effectively communicate messages and ideas, especially those that are meant to change the public's orientation on societal ills and their negative effects on the general wellbeing of the society.

'This exhibition, which has been designed to feature knowledge sharing discussions by highly...